Sea levels around the world are rising as a result of human-caused global warming.
Overall, global sea levels have risen about 10 centimeters from 1993 to 2023, as seen in this animation.
However, sea levels are also rising at an accelerating rate. Right now, global sea level rises about 0.17 inches (0.42 centimeters) per year. For comparison, the 1993 rate was 0.07 inches (0.13 centimeters) per year.
“Current rates of acceleration mean that we are on track to add another 20 centimeters of global mean sea level by 2050, doubling the amount of change in the next three decades compared to the previous 100 years and increasing the frequency and impacts of floods across the world.” – Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, director for the NASA sea level change team.
Video Description:
Animation of blue ocean water level rising from 1993 to 2023. A vertical line shows change in sea level in increments of 10 centimeters and 5 inches. The animation starts in 1993 and, as it continues, the water sloshes up and down but continues an overall rising trend until the animation ends in 2023. By the end, the water level has risen just over 10 centimeters from where it started.
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Sustainability in construction continues to drive industry transformation, with a strong emphasis on decarbonising the built environment and achieving net zero carbon buildings. Cushman & Wakefield’s 2024 Sustainability Report confirms that real estate organisations are increasing their focus on whole life carbon, sustainable building design, and energy-efficient buildings. Supply chain transparency and efforts to lower the carbon footprint of construction are central, with more companies embedding whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment practices to make measurable progress beyond superficial commitments.
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The macroeconomic context underscores the sector’s responsibility: with projections showing climate mitigation costs driving public debt to historic levels, the business case for green construction and carbon neutral construction is strengthening. Investment decisions now favour low carbon construction materials, green building products, environmental product declarations (EPDs), and the adoption of life cycle cost evaluation across projects. Embracing whole life carbon and circular economy principles in construction is proving indispensable for future-proofing assets.
Digital transformation in construction is aligning with sustainability objectives, particularly as data centre infrastructure faces growing risks from extreme climate events. These challenges are accelerating the uptake of sustainable construction and end-of-life reuse in construction, highlighting the interdependence between environmental impact of construction, resource efficiency, and resilient infrastructure. Recent developments confirm that commitment to net zero carbon buildings, reduction in embodied carbon in materials, and eco-friendly strategies in the built environment is no longer optional, but essential for competitive, responsible construction globally.
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